NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines — The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) authorized revisions to the guidelines for implementing the Alert Level System for Covid-19 response across the country on Sunday.

This comes after the IATF approved the National Capital Region and 38 other locations being placed on Alert Level 1 from March 1 to 15.

The IATF stated that there are no restrictions on indoor and outdoor capacities at Alert Level 1. Everyone, regardless of age or comorbidities, can travel intrazonally and interzonally.

All establishments, people, or activities are also permitted to operate, work, or engage in activities up to the total on-site or venue seating capacity, as long as they meet minimal public health standards.

Meanwhile, face-to-face classes for primary education must be approved by the President’s Office first.

The following are some of the protocols that must be followed when Alert Level 1 is activated:

*Except when eating and drinking, participating in team and individual sports in venues where ventilation standards can be maintained, and practicing outdoor sports/exercise activities where physical distance can be maintained, well-fitted face masks must be worn properly at all times, whether outdoors or in indoor private or public establishments, including public transportation by land, air, or sea;

*In accordance with national issuances on immunization requirements for on-site work, all private offices and workplaces, including public and private construction sites, may operate at full capacity. However, depending on the function or individual risk, they may continue to offer flexible and alternate work arrangements.

*All government agencies and instrumentalities must employ 100 percent on-site personnel. Off-site work must be done in accordance with such work arrangements, which are governed by appropriate rules and regulations published by the Civil Service Commission and the President’s Office.

*However, public transit in regions where Alert Level 1 is in effect must be at full capacity. The passenger capacity for intrazonal and interzonal journeys using public land transportation between an area with a higher alert level classification and an area under Alert Level 1 shall be that which has the lower passenger capacity rate between the points of origin and destination. Passenger capacity will be at 100 percent for aviation, maritime, and rail public transportation operating in and out of Alert Level 1 locations. In public transportation, usage of acrylic and/or plastic dividers is not needed. Interzonal travel to locations under Alert Level 1 will not require the adoption of the Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-PaSS) travel management system.

*For all agencies and establishments under Alert Level 1, the use of health declaration forms/paper-based contact tracing is not necessary for contact tracing. The use of digital contact tracing, such as the StaySafe.PH program, is, on the other hand, optional for all agencies and organizations.

*According to IATF Resolution No. 148-B and No. 149, s. 2021, testing protocols for individuals who are unvaccinated or have a higher exposure risk shall be adopted in accordance with national guidelines for individuals who are unvaccinated or have a higher exposure risk. Additionally, RT-PCR testing should be advised and prioritized for Priority Groups A2 (those over 60) and A3 (people with comorbidities), as well as Priority Group A1 (healthcare personnel). Other organizations not mentioned above will be given the opportunity of testing. It is not suggested for asymptomatic close contacts unless symptoms arise, and regardless of test findings, they should be isolated promptly. Rather, symptom monitoring is advised. If testing is still necessary, it should be done at least 5 days after the last exposure. Testing is also not advised for screening asymptomatic people. In the meantime, antigen testing will be advised only for symptomatic patients and in cases where RT-PCR is not accessible, according to previously published guidelines.

*Based on their risk and benefit assessments, the Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Committees (HIPCC) may conduct testing measures at health facilities for health personnel and patients.

Revised quarantine protocols for arriving overseas travelers must comply with IATF Resolution No. 160 A/B, and updated isolation and quarantine protocols for the general public, healthcare staff, and permitted sectors must comply with DOH Dept Memo No. 2022-0013.

*Under Alert Level 1, businesses are no longer obligated to set up isolation rooms in the workplace.

Close contacts, asymptomatic confirmed cases, and mild to moderate confirmed cases should be managed at the primary care level, such as health centers or private clinics, via face-to-face or teleconsultation, whereas confirmed cases with severe and critical symptoms should be managed in the appropriate health care facility.

*In the case of reintegration, isolation can be removed after the required isolation duration if the patient does not have a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of antipyretic drugs and their respiratory signs and symptoms have improved.

*A medical certification may suffice for claiming sick leave, health benefits, or other relevant processes requiring proofs of Covid-19 management if it includes the following minimum information: name of the patient, the severity of symptoms, diagnosis as probable or confirmed COVID-19, and date of the end of quarantine and/or isolation period.

Individuals aged 18 and up will be required to show proof of full vaccination before attending mass gatherings or entering indoor establishments, including but not limited to: *In-person religious gatherings; gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than Covi-19 and for the cremains of the Covid-19 deceased; *All indoor dine-in services of food preparation establishments such as k No proof of full vaccination is required for outdoor or alfresco dining and take-out channels; *All indoor personal care establishments such as barbershops, hair spas, hair salons, and nail spas, and those offering aesthetic/cosmetic services or procedures, make-up services, salons, spas, reflexology, and other similar procedures, including home service options; *Fitness studios, gyms, and venues for exercise and sports;

Before being added to the list of institutions recognized under the principles of 3C’s Covid-19 plan, proof of full immunization will be required.

Children under the age of 17 will not be required to provide proof of immunization.

Other areas under Alert Level 1 include: Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, and Kalinga in the Cordillera Administrative Region; Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan in Region 1 (Ilocos); Batanes, Cagayan, City of Santiago, Isabela, and Quirino in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley); Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan (Bicol).

• Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz, and Guimaras in Region 6 (Western Visayas); Siquijor in Region 7 (Central Visayas); and Biliran in Region 8 (Visayas) are all on Alert Level 1. (Eastern Visayas).

The following areas in Mindanao are under Alert Level 1: Zamboanga City in Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula); Cagayan de Oro City and Camiguin in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao); and Davao City in Region 11 (Northern Mindanao) (Davao). (

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